This year’s Care Homes relay sees Edinburgh host the start at the Glencairn Care Home.

A small boutique-style care home, with 26 bedrooms, is located in the famous Grange area of Edinburgh. Residents are close to and are encouraged to visit the local amenities and join in social functions, of which there are many locally.

Newly renovated, the home offers a luxurious environment, including private in-room dining and a well-kept garden.

The team at the home is experienced in a range of needs, including palliative care.

We encourage all riders to take a moment to check out the home when they visit and see why it figures in the 2026 top 20 care homes rankings.

The M Check

The M Check answers two important questions:

Is my bike safe to ride? What areas of the bike should I be looking at?

It’s one of the most useful tools for anyone who wants to get to know a little about their bike, and it is easy to use, as it follows the shape of the letter M. You can view a video of one of our bike guides as they talk you through an M Check via this link. Alternatively, you can download a walkthrough PDF here.

The Route

Day 1 begins and ends at Glencairn Care Home in Edinburgh. A 100km route will take you around some of the stunning landscapes Edinburgh and Dunfermline have to offer. Along the way, we will stop for refreshments at various care homes in the area. Some highlights to look out for along the way are the Forth Bridge, Preston Island Salt Pans, Dunimarle Castle, Rosebank Distillery and Linlithgow Palace.

Day 2, starting and finishing in Altrincham, Trafford, this lovely 100km route will explore some of the beautiful countryside that South Manchester and Cheshire have to offer. With a priority on rolling countryside (rather than steep climbs!), we will stop for refreshments at care homes in Partington, Lostock Gralam and Wilmslow, cycling past the well-known attractions of Tatton Park, Dunham Massey, Jodrell Bank and Quarry Bank Mill along the way.

Day 3, a 3-county tour of the East Midlands covering 115km with 850m elevation. The route starts in Chilwell. After leaving suburbia and crossing the River Trent, we are soon in rolling Nottinghamshire wolds, heading south towards Leicestershire. Followed by the only notable climb of the day, Beacon Hill near Loughborough. The last leg of 20km takes us past Elvaston Castle, heading back to Suburbia and the welcome cheers and cake at our destination back at Chetwynd House.

Day 4, setting off from Capel Grange in Newport, the South Wales leg of the Great British Care Cycle Relay will head west, weaving through scenic forests and back lanes before arriving at our first stop in Cardiff for refreshments. Our route will then head southwest from the capital out into the beautiful countryside around Cowbridge before turning southeast to Barry Island, where we’ll stop for a second time before taking the coastal route back through the Cardiff waterfront and home to Newport, stopping once more en-route to refuel for the final push.

Day 5, this 80km route from Reading with 250m of elevation to Wandsworth offers a scenic and varied ride that transitions smoothly from the Thames Valley countryside into the heart of southwest London. It’s a largely flowing route featuring quiet riverside stretches, rolling terrain through Berkshire and Surrey, and increasingly urban roads as it approaches the capital.

Social Media

Get your circle riding with you! Showcase your involvement on social media and let people know which leg you’ll be joining using this downloadable graphic link.

Tag us on social media at Championing Social Care across all platforms and use the hashtags: #TheGreatBritishCycleRelay #CareHomeOpenWeek

Let’s ride together and celebrate the amazing work of the care sector!

If you have any questions about the ride, please get in touch with Vishal Shah, vishal.shah@banyancare.co.uk.

Kind regards,

Championing Care Homes

This event is being organised by pie. pie stands for Passion in Events.

We design and deliver bespoke guided bike rides. We concentrate on providing the best service to create strong relationships and deliver impeccable events. We have 20 years of event management experience working with blue chip companies and major charities. We specialise in delivering professional, high-standard events, and tailoring to your needs. Delivery with care and with passion every step of the way.

We will be there to support you on the event by guiding you on your route, helping with mechanicals, and so much more.